The Collaborative Exhibition of Paul Simon and Charlie Mackesy
The renowned singer-songwriter Paul Simon and artist Charlie Mackesy, famous for the bestselling book “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” have recently unveiled their collaborative work at the Frieze art fair’s London gallery No 9 Cork Street. The exhibition, titled “Seven Psalms,” showcases Mackesy’s drawings inspired by Simon’s album of the same name, released in 2023.
During the exhibition launch, Mackesy revealed how the collaboration came about. Simon gave him the freedom to respond to the songs rather than providing specific instructions, which allowed Mackesy to create freely. He would listen to the album on repeat, reflect on the lines that resonated with him, and visualize corresponding images.
Simon, now 81, spoke at length about the album’s inspiration and its connection to the refugee crisis. One song, “Trail of Volcanoes,” recounts Simon’s own journey to the UK in the 1960s, while another song, “The Sacred Harp,” purposefully mentions the word “refugee” and tells the story of hitchhikers who resemble Simon and his wife, Edie. Simon expressed his concern for refugees worldwide, particularly those coming from Central and South America to the southern border of the United States.
Simon also discussed how the Covid pandemic influenced his songwriting process. He found that isolation and the absence of external demands allowed him to focus and practice more. Playing the guitar alone, he discovered new musical ideas. Interestingly, Simon revealed that he often received song ideas while asleep and would wake up to write them down instantly. He described his creative cycle as occurring every three years and considered these nocturnal inspirations as special moments.
Despite the benefits of solitude during the lockdown, Simon admitted that he eventually craved human interaction. He expressed the desire to collaborate with others again after a period of intense personal exploration.
Mackesy caught Simon’s attention after the release of the film adaptation of Mackesy’s book, which left a strong impression on Simon. They even discussed the possibility of future collaborations, with Simon already having written a new song.
In addition to the exhibition, Simon is actively involved in the promotion of the documentary film “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” directed by Alex Gibney. The film explores the making of “Seven Psalms” and provides a retrospective on Simon’s illustrious career.
The Seven Psalms exhibition, featuring Charlie Mackesy’s illustrations inspired by Paul Simon’s words and music, will be open to the public at Frieze, No 9 Cork Street, London, until September 27.
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